The Book of Common Prayer Part 41

_And when there is a Communion, the Priest shall then place upon the Table so much Bread and Wine as he shall think sufficient_.

_After offering the Elements_.

| Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, | and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven | and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou | art exalted as head above all. All things come of thee and of | thine own have we given thee. 1 _Chron_. xxix. 11, 14.

_After which done, the Priest shall say_,

Let us pray for the whole state of Christ's Church militant here in earth.

Almighty and everliving G.o.d, who by thy holy Apostle hast taught us to make prayers and supplications, and to give thanks, for all men: We humbly beseech thee most * mercifully [_to accept our alms and oblations, and_] to receive these our prayers, which we offer unto thy Divine Majesty; beseeching thee to inspire continually the universal Church with the spirit of truth, unity, and concord: And grant, that all they that do confess thy holy Name may agree in the truth of thy holy Word, and live in unity, and G.o.dly love. We beseech thee also to save and defend all Christian Kings, Princes, and Governors; and specially thy servant _GEORGE_ our King; that under him we may be G.o.dly and quietly governed: And grant unto his whole Council, and to all that are put in authority under him, that they may truly and indifferently minister justice, to the punishment of wickedness and vice, and to the maintenance of thy true religion, and virtue. Give grace, O heavenly Father, to all Bishops and Curates, that they may both by their life and doctrine set forth thy true and lively Word, and rightly and duly administer thy holy Sacraments: And to all thy people give thy heavenly grace; and specially to this congregation here present; that, with meek heart and due reverence, they may hear, and receive thy holy Word; truly serving thee in holiness and righteousness all the days of their life. And we most humbly beseech thee of thy goodness, O Lord, to comfort and succour all them, who in this transitory life are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other adversity.

And we also bless thy holy Name for all thy servants departed this life in thy faith and fear; beseeching thee to give us grace so to follow their good examples, that with them we may be partakers of thy heavenly kingdom: Grant this, O Father, for Jesus Christ's sake, our only Mediator and Advocate. _Amen_.

[Margin Note:] * _If there be no alms or oblations, then shall the words_ [of accepting our alms and oblations] _be left out unsaid_.

_When the Minister giveth warning for the Celebration of the holy Communion, (which he shall always do upon the Sunday or some Holy-day, immediately preceding,) after the Sermon or Homily ended, he shall read this Exhortation following_.

Dearly beloved, on------day next I purpose, through G.o.d's a.s.sistance, to administer to all such as shall be religiously and devoutly disposed the most comfortable Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ; to be by them received in remembrance of his meritorious Cross and Pa.s.sion, whereby alone we obtain remission of our sins, and are made partakers of the kingdom of heaven.

Wherefore it is our duty to render most humble and hearty thanks to Almighty G.o.d our heavenly Father, for that he hath given his Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, not only to die for us, but also to be our spiritual food and sustenance in that holy Sacrament. Which being so divine and comfortable a thing to them who receive it worthily, and so dangerous to them that will presume to receive it unworthily; my duty is to exhort you in the mean season to consider the dignity of that holy mystery, and the great peril of the unworthy receiving thereof; and so to search and examine your own consciences, and that not lightly, and after the manner of dissemblers with G.o.d: but so that ye may come holy and clean to such a heavenly Feast, in the marriage-garment required by G.o.d in holy Scripture, and be received as worthy partakers of that holy Table.

The way and means thereto is; First, to examine your lives and conversations by the rule of G.o.d's commandments; and whereinsoever ye shall perceive yourselves to have offended, either by will, word, or deed, there to bewail your own sinfulness, and to confess yourselves to Almighty G.o.d, with full purpose of amendment of life. And if ye shall perceive your offences to be such as are not only against G.o.d, but also against your neighbours; then ye shall reconcile yourselves unto them; being ready to make rest.i.tution and satisfaction, according to the uttermost of your powers, for all injuries and wrongs done by you to any other; and being likewise ready to forgive others that have offended you, as you would have forgiveness of your offences at G.o.d's hand; for otherwise the receiving of the holy Communion doth nothing else but increase your d.a.m.nation*. Therefore if any of you be a blasphemer of G.o.d, an hinderer or slanderer of his Word, an adulterer, or be in malice, or envy, or in any other grievous crime, repent you of your sins, or else come not to that holy Table; lest, after the taking of that holy Sacrament, the devil enter into you, as he entered into Judas, and fill you full of all iniquities, and bring you to destruction both of body and soul.

And because it is requisite, that no man should come to the holy Communion, but with a full trust in G.o.d's mercy, and with a quiet conscience; therefore if there be any of you, who by this means cannot quiet his own conscience herein, but requireth further comfort or counsel, let him come to me, or to some other discreet and learned Minister of G.o.d's Word, and open his grief; that by the ministry of G.o.d's holy Word he may receive the benefit of absolution, together with ghostly counsel and advice, to the quieting of his conscience, and avoiding of all scruple and doubtfulness.

| * _The word_ guilt _may be subst.i.tuted for the word_ d.a.m.nation.

_Or, in case he shall see the people negligent to come to the holy Communion, instead of the former, he shall use this Exhortation_.

Dearly beloved brethren, on------I intend, by G.o.d's grace, to celebrate the Lord's Supper: unto which, in G.o.d's behalf, I bid you all that are here present; and beseech you, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, that ye will not refuse to come thereto, being so lovingly called and bidden by G.o.d himself. Ye know how grievous and unkind a thing it is, when a man hath prepared a rich feast, decked his table with all kind of provision, so that there lacketh nothing but the guests to sit down; and yet they who are called (without any cause) most unthankfully refuse to come. Which of you, in such a case would not be moved? Who would not think a great injury and wrong done unto him? Wherefore, most dearly beloved in Christ, take ye good heed, lest ye, withdrawing yourselves from this holy Supper, provoke G.o.d's indignation against you. It is an easy matter for a man to say, I will not communicate, because I am otherwise hindered with worldly business. But such excuses are not so easily accepted and allowed before G.o.d. If any man say, I am a grievous sinner, and therefore am afraid to come: wherefore then do ye not repent and amend? When G.o.d calleth you, are ye not ashamed to say ye will not come? When ye should return to G.o.d, will ye excuse yourselves, and say ye are not ready?

Consider earnestly with yourselves how little such feigned excuses will avail before G.o.d. They that refused the feast in the Gospel, because they had bought a farm, or would try their yokes of oxen, or because they were married, were not so excused, but counted unworthy of the heavenly feast. I, for my part, shall be ready; and, according to mine Office, I bid you in the Name of G.o.d, I call you in Christ's behalf, I exhort you, as ye love your own salvation, that ye will be partakers of this holy Communion.

And as the Son of G.o.d did vouchsafe to yield up his soul by death upon the Cross for your salvation; so it is your duty to receive the Communion, in remembrance of the sacrifice of his death, as he himself hath commanded: which if ye shall neglect to do, consider with yourselves how great injury ye do unto G.o.d, and how sore punishment hangeth over your heads for the same; when ye wilfully abstain from the Lord's Table, and separate from your brethren, who come to feed on the banquet of that most heavenly food. These things if ye earnestly consider, ye will by G.o.d's grace return to a better mind: for the obtaining whereof we shall not cease to make our humble pet.i.tions unto Almighty G.o.d our heavenly Father.

_At the time of the Celebration of the Communion, the Communicants being conveniently placed for the receiving of the holy Sacrament, the Priest shall say this Exhortation_.

Dearly beloved in the Lord, ye that mind to come to the holy Communion of the Body and Blood of our Saviour Christ, must consider how Saint Paul exhorteth all persons diligently to try and examine themselves, before they presume to eat of that Bread, and drink of that Cup. For as the benefit is great, if with a true penitent heart and lively faith we receive that holy Sacrament; (for then we spiritually eat the flesh of Christ, and drink his blood; then we dwell in Christ, and Christ in us; we are one with Christ, and Christ with us;) so is the danger great, if we receive the same unworthily. For then we are guilty of the Body and Blood of Christ our Saviour; we eat and drink our own d.a.m.nation *, not considering the Lord's Body; we kindle G.o.d's wrath against us; we provoke him to plague us with divers diseases, and sundry kinds of death. Judge therefore yourselves, brethren, that ye be not judged of the Lord; repent you truly for your sins past; have a lively and stedfast faith in Christ our Saviour; amend your lives, and be in perfect charity with all men; so shall ye be meet partakers of those holy mysteries. And above all things ye must give most humble and hearty thanks to G.o.d, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, for the redemption of the world by the death and pa.s.sion of our Saviour Christ, both G.o.d and man; who did humble himself, even to the death upon the Cross, for us miserable sinners, who lay in darkness and the shadow of death; that he might make us the children of G.o.d, and exalt us to everlasting life. And to the end that we should alway remember the exceeding great love of our Master and only Saviour Jesus Christ, thus dying for us, and the innumerable benefits which by his precious blood-shedding he hath obtained to us; he hath inst.i.tuted and ordained holy mysteries, as pledges of his love, and for a continual remembrance of his death, to our great and endless comfort. To him therefore, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, let us give (as we are most bounden) continual thanks; submitting ourselves wholly to his holy will and pleasure, and studying to serve him in true holiness and righteousness all the days of our life. _Amen_.

| _The Exhortation when warning is given of holy Communion, and_ | _the Exhortation at the time of the Celebration_, Dearly beloved | in the Lord, _may be omitted, unless on occasions when their use_ | _is directed by his Bishop_.

| | _In the former the word_ guilt_ may be subst.i.tuted for the word_ | d.a.m.nation; * _in the latter the word_ judgement _may be_ | _subst.i.tuted for_ d.a.m.nation.

_Then shall the Priest say to them that come to receive the holy Communion_,

Ye that do truly and earnestly repent you of your sins, and are in love and charity with your neighbours, and intend to lead a new life, following the commandments of G.o.d, and walking from henceforth in his holy ways: Draw near with faith, and take this holy Sacrament to your comfort; and make your humble confession to Almighty G.o.d, meekly kneeling upon your knees.

_Then shall this general Confession be made, in the name of all those that are minded to receive the holy Communion, by one of the Ministers; both he and all the people kneeling humbly upon their knees and saying_,

Almighty G.o.d, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things, Judge of all men: We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, Which we from time to time most grievously have committed, By thought, word, and deed, Against thy Divine Majesty, Provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us. We do earnestly repent, And are heartily sorry for these our misdoings; The remembrance of them is grievous unto us; The burden of them is intolerable. Have mercy upon us, Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father; For thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ's sake, Forgive us all that is past; And grant that we may ever hereafter Serve and please thee In newness of life, To the honour and glory of thy Name; Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

_Then shall the Priest_ (_or the Bishop, being present_,) _stand up, and turning himself to the people, p.r.o.nounce this Absolution_.

Almighty G.o.d, our heavenly Father, who of his great mercy hath promised forgiveness of sins to all them that with hearty repentance and true faith turn unto him; Have mercy upon you; pardon and deliver you from all your sins; confirm and strengthen you in all goodness; and bring you to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_.

_Then shall the Priest say_,

Hear what comfortable words our Saviour Christ saith unto all that truly turn to him.

Come unto me all that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you. _St Matth_. xi. 28.

So G.o.d loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, to the end that all that believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. _St John_ iii. 16.

Hear also what Saint Paul saith.

This is a true saying, and worthy of all men to be received, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. 1 _Tim_. i. 15.

Hear also what Saint John saith.

If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the propitiation for our sins. 1 _St John_ ii. 1.

_After which the Priest shall proceed, saying_,

Lift up your hearts.

_Answer_. We lift them up unto the Lord.

_Priest_. Let us give thanks unto our Lord G.o.d.

_Answer_. It is meet and right so to do.

_Then shall the Priest turn to the Lord's Table, and say_,

It is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto thee, O Lord, Holy Father, Almighty, Everlasting G.o.d.

[Margin Note:] _These words_ [Holy Father] _must be omitted on_ Trinity Sunday.

_Here shall follow the proper Preface, according to the time, if there be any specially appointed: or else immediately shall follow_,

Therefore with Angels and Archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious Name; evermore praising thee, and saying: Holy, holy, holy, Lord G.o.d of hosts, heaven and earth are full of thy glory: Glory be to thee, O Lord most High.

Amen.

Proper Prefaces.

_Upon_ Christmas Day, _and seven days after_.

Because thou didst give Jesus Christ thine only Son to be born as at this time for us; who, by the operation of the Holy Ghost, was made very man of the substance of the Virgin Mary his mother; and that without spot of sin, to make us clean from all sin. Therefore with Angels, &c.

_Upon_ Easter Day, _and seven days after_.

But chiefly are we bound to praise thee for the glorious Resurrection of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord: for he is the very Paschal Lamb, which was offered for us, and hath taken away the sin of the world; who by his death hath destroyed death, and by his rising to life again hath restored to us everlasting life. Therefore with Angels, &c.

_Upon_ Ascension Day, _and seven days after_.